Fifth Prof Sarat Mahanta Memorial Lecture held

Sivasagar, June 19: ‘Dreaming for a better future through the study of past.’ These lines of noted scholar and writer Dr Arupjyoti Choudhury, while delivering the keynote address during the 5th Professor Sarat Mahanta Memorial lecture on the theme ‘Sanskriti Aru Sompodr Proxongore Axomor Jatiyo Jibon’ left a major impact on the minds of the listeners.

The memorial lecture was held at Madhab Chandra Bezbaruah auditorium, Sivasagar College in Sivasagar District. Dr Choudhury, while delivering his keynote address highlighted many important cultural and social resources of Assam and its impact on the society and the people of Assam as a whole though historical accounts and data.

An analytical presentation was also made by Dr Choudhury on the Historical ‘Paik’ System that was prevalent during the Ahom era and the chronological data from 1826 during the East India Company’s (EIC) rule in Assam till today’s similar characteristics of Multinational companies (MNCs).

Speaking on the event further, Dr Choudhury said, “The small-scale and handicraft industries of Assam that have been a major source of economy to the then princely state were systematically destructed by the British EIC and this has led to many socio-economic challenges and the repercussions are still visible.

The programme started with the lighting of the lamp by principal of Sivasagar college Dr Prafulla Kalita and garlanding of the portrait of Dr Sarat Mahanta by his wife Meena Mahanta. The event was organized by Sivasagar Press Club and was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Sivasagar, Pallab Gopal Jha. The memorial lecture was attended by scores of people including students, academicians, eminent figures, police officers, local politicians and people from the media.